Ys X: Nordics

92%
Game Brain Score Based on 475 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • music
Ys X: Nordics Game Cover
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In "Ys X: Nordics," players join Adol Christin on a new action-packed RPG adventure, available on Steam. This early bird purchase includes exclusive bonus items, and the digital deluxe edition offers a variety of additional DLC content, such as costumes, attachments, and ship customizations. The game boasts a compelling story, thrilling combat, and richly detailed Nordic-inspired environments.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Play​Station
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

92%
Audience ScoreBased on 475 reviews
story111 positive mentions
grinding18 negative mentions
  • The combat system is a refreshing change, focusing on blocking and parrying, which adds depth and strategy to battles.
  • The character dynamics, especially between Adol and Karja, are engaging and well-developed, making the story enjoyable.
  • The game features beautiful graphics and a fantastic soundtrack, maintaining the high production values expected from the Ys series.
  • The naval combat and exploration can feel tedious and slow, especially in the early game, which may deter some players.
  • The story pacing is uneven, with a slow start that may frustrate players before the plot picks up.
  • Some characters and side quests lack depth, making it hard to connect with the broader cast outside of the main duo.
  • story315 mentions

    The story in "Ys X: Nordics" has received mixed reviews, with many praising the character-driven narrative, particularly the dynamic between Adol and Karja, which adds depth to the gameplay experience. While some players found the plot engaging and emotionally resonant, others criticized it for being predictable and lacking the complexity of previous entries in the series, particularly "Ys VIII" and "Ys IX." Overall, the game offers a solid narrative with moments of charm and character development, though it may not reach the heights of its predecessors.

    • “Really enjoyed going through Adol and Karja's interactions and growth throughout the story, and combining that story with the gameplay made it hard for me to put this one down.”
    • “The story is very much centered around Karja, though, so it might depend on how much you'll like her.”
    • “The story was also enjoyable and was fun to work through; it is really straightforward but had a couple of twists that were pretty good.”
    • “The main story writing is very clumsy for having so much dialogue in it.”
    • “Wish the story had a bit better writing; most events feel shoehorned and make no sense really from the 'big bads'.”
    • “The story was sub-par, even for an Ys game's standards.”
  • gameplay237 mentions

    The gameplay in "Ys X: Nordics" introduces a new duo mechanic that allows players to control two characters, Adol and Karja, which adds a fresh dynamic to combat but can feel less engaging compared to previous titles with larger party systems. While the combat mechanics, including a parry-focused system and ship combat, offer some exciting moments, they also lead to repetitiveness and a lack of challenge, making the overall experience feel easier than past entries. Despite these criticisms, many players appreciate the engaging story and character interactions, which help maintain interest throughout the gameplay.

    • “Really enjoyed going through Adol and Karja's interactions and growth throughout the story, and combining that story with the gameplay made it hard for me to put this one down.”
    • “The latest title in the Ys series actually delivers more of the fun gameplay that you've come to expect from the series.”
    • “The duo mechanic truly makes you feel like you are fighting as a team together.”
    • “The new boat mechanic was cool at first but became tedious towards the end because of how repetitive it was.”
    • “That said, the thing that bothered me the most is that the gameplay and scenarios are a bit too repetitive.”
    • “Cons: lack of enemy variety weighs down the gameplay and too many systems that are just shallow puddles that could have been omitted or blended with each other to make something interesting.”
  • music118 mentions

    The music in "Ys X: Nordics" has received mixed reviews, with many praising its quality and the signature style of Falcom's soundtracks, while others express disappointment over a perceived decline compared to previous entries in the series. Some reviewers noted that the soundtrack features a limited number of standout tracks, with a significant portion being less memorable or filled with outsourced compositions. Overall, while the music remains enjoyable and complements the gameplay, it may not reach the heights of earlier titles in the franchise.

    • “The music is absolutely phenomenal, staying true to the series' signature style while offering new, memorable tracks that perfectly complement the adventure.”
    • “The soundtrack is perfect as always and runs perfectly on Steam Deck.”
    • “With Ys X, the series continues its tradition of smooth, fluid combat, a colorful cast, and epic, heart-pounding music.”
    • “The soundtrack was decent, graphics were alright but my favourite part of this game (and the whole series in all) is that it all feels like grand adventures you set out on.”
    • “The music in the series is definitely getting worse and will continue to get worse if F Corp keeps outsourcing to cheap musicians.”
    • “There are some great tracks here and there, but half the soundtrack is taken up by mediocre music that gets really grating after a while of listening to it in-game.”
  • graphics81 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many noting that while there are improvements over previous titles, they still fall short of AAA standards. Players appreciate the art style and character animations, but some criticize the dated visuals and lack of significant upgrades, particularly in character models and environmental textures. Overall, the graphics are seen as a secondary concern compared to the engaging gameplay and storytelling, making them acceptable for fans of the series despite their limitations.

    • “The action combat was amazing, songs were almost perfect and graphics were spectacular.”
    • “While graphically, it's nowhere near the 'used up the GDP of a small nation' level of budget one would expect from say, Final Fantasy 16, a combination of solid models and a cohesive, good art style mean more or less every important character - and monsters - look good.”
    • “It is fantastically animated and, as usual in all Falcom games, characters are actually quite expressive for this art style, which is a strong point in their games. They manage to convey lots of different expressions and emotions via their very skilled animation on the characters’ faces, eyes, mouths, and bodies, even with the simpler graphics compared to other, bigger AAA productions.”
    • “The graphics are appalling.”
    • “If you are new to the franchise and don't mind slightly dated graphics, I'd go for Ys VIII or Ys IX instead because this one doesn't quite measure up to the same standards.”
    • “The outdated visuals and animations I can personally overlook as a fan, but it can definitely be a turn-off for some people. The game has a great art style, don't get me wrong, but everything else looks like it's from 10+ years ago, which has always been the case with Ys games.”
  • grinding23 mentions

    Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience. While some enjoy the RPG elements and feel that grinding is not necessary if they engage with side quests, others describe certain mechanics, particularly naval combat and farming, as repetitive and tedious, especially in the late game. The game features a balance where upgrades can alleviate some grind, but many still feel that significant portions of gameplay are bogged down by monotonous tasks.

    • “As I did basically everything, I always had the materials for upgrades and whatnot, no farming needed!”
    • “The new boat mechanic was cool at first but became tedious towards the end because of how repetitive it was.”
    • “Farming and combat gets repetitive towards the end game.”
    • “If you build up your ship then it will be very easy, if you don't then it will be very tedious.”
  • optimization19 mentions

    The optimization of the game has received widespread praise, with reviewers highlighting excellent performance across various platforms, including the Steam Deck, where it maintains a stable 60 fps. Durante's efforts in porting the game to PC have resulted in a well-optimized experience, allowing for customizable settings and smooth gameplay even on lower-end hardware. Overall, the game's optimization is considered elite, ensuring a seamless experience for players.

    • “The programmers who ported this to PC have put a lot into optimization, and for such a niche series, it’s appreciated.”
    • “Durante did an absolutely fantastic job with optimization as well as making sure FPS did not accelerate the game in unintended ways like previous ports had issues with.”
    • “Amazing game so far... super fun gameplay with great optimization and options, and it runs perfectly on Steam Deck.”
    • “The series is infamously low budget and they seemingly did not make drastic changes between the Switch version and others, meaning it's capped by the Nintendo potato's performance.”
    • “Visually and performance-wise, there isn't really a lot to report here.”
    • “As usual, the performance of the PC version for this game is absolutely fantastic, being a port from PS3, and we have an extremely well-optimized game, packed with settings.”
  • character development10 mentions

    Character development in the game is noted for its depth and progression, particularly with the character Karja, who evolves from a stereotypical figure into a more complex character. While the story features significant voice acting and narrative depth, some reviewers feel that certain character conflicts lack resolution or are resolved too quickly, detracting from the overall impact. Additionally, while character designs are generally considered serviceable, they do not stand out compared to previous titles in the series.

    • “But don’t get me wrong, there’s so much voice acting, story depth, and character development, you eventually get over it.”
    • “Because of that she had good character development and a well-written story.”
    • “Karja undergoes some remarkable character development from bland, stereotypical 'me sea raider!'”
    • “There were some interesting potential with certain character conflicts, but they don't really go anywhere, or in the best case, resolve way too quickly like certain big character developments that happen later in the main story.”
    • “Speaking of characters, I think most of the character designs in this game were pretty bland compared to the last two Ys games and the recent Trails games.”
  • emotional10 mentions

    The emotional aspect of "Ys X: Nordics" is highlighted by its strong character development and heartwarming narratives, which evoke significant emotional investment from players. While some find the story predictable and weaker at the beginning, it ultimately delivers impactful moments and plot twists that resonate deeply, especially for fans of the series. Overall, the game is praised for its engaging dialogue and emotional depth, making it a recommended experience for both newcomers and veterans.

    • “It is entries like this that make me wish sometimes that Adol wasn't a 'silent' protagonist, as I tend to get really emotionally invested in some of the characters that Adol meets throughout his adventures. Regardless, Ys X: Nordics is a new favorite of mine, and I wholeheartedly recommend this to series newcomers and veterans alike.”
    • “The story is quite predictable, but it's done well enough and elicits an emotional reaction as they do a really good job of making you like each and every single character.”
    • “Dialogue feels impactful, and for me, who always uses the English dub for Ys X, I can honestly say Ys X has one of the best dubs; everything feels very emotional.”
  • stability6 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while many users report smooth performance and great visuals, there are notable issues such as glitches, prolonged loading times during area transitions, and occasional freezes when accessing the in-game menu. These problems can significantly disrupt gameplay, particularly when trying to save progress.

    • “The game runs great.”
    • “Looks phenomenal and runs great on Steam Deck OLED too.”
    • “The PC version runs great - even through Proton (which is how I'm playing it, in Debian).”
    • “My only problem I have is that there are a few glitches that I hope get fixed ASAP.”
    • “Sometimes the game will endlessly load when it transitions to a new area (i.e., I fast traveled and it took so long to load that I seriously fell asleep during the game loading and woke up 2 hours later to it still loading). Additionally, pausing or going to the in-game menu can sometimes freeze the game, which really sucks when you need to access those menus to save.”
  • humor4 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by a blend of lighthearted jokes and serious moments, effectively enhancing the overall experience without detracting from the gameplay. Players have noted moments of genuine laughter, such as the memorable use of the term "walhalla," which adds to the fun and engaging nature of the game. Overall, the humor complements the fast-paced action and RPG elements, making it an enjoyable experience.

    • “From its easy-to-pick-up and exciting action gameplay to its sometimes awkward and humorous dialogue, it's just simply fun to play.”
    • “The Ys series is great at mixing funny, lighthearted jokes with serious moments without hurting either part.”
    • “I burst out laughing at 'Walhalla' when it was first said out loud.”
  • replayability3 mentions

    Players express a desire for more playable characters and costumes to enhance replayability. While the game offers a good story and cast, the limited number of playable characters—only Adol and Karja—detracts from its overall replay value compared to other titles in the series.

    • “More playable characters would be cool and surely more costumes to choose from.”
    • “Replay value.”
    • “After playing Ys VIII, I really wanted to try this game out. While it is not as good as the masterpiece that is Lacrimosa of Dana, it's still a very good story with a good cast of characters.”
    • “The replay value is quite low.”
    • “After playing Ys VIII, I was excited to try this game out, but I found that it lacks the depth and variety that would encourage multiple playthroughs.”
    • “While the story and characters are enjoyable, the limited number of playable characters really diminishes the replayability.”
  • atmosphere1 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is praised for blending a fresh vibe with familiar elements that fans appreciated in Ys VIII, particularly in its storytelling and overall ambiance.

    • “At the same time, after its different vibe, it returns to what many fans enjoyed about Ys VIII in several aspects, mainly when it comes to storytelling and atmosphere.”
    • “The atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking the depth that I expected from this title.”
    • “Despite some interesting elements, the overall ambiance is dull and fails to immerse me in the game world.”
    • “The game struggles to create a compelling atmosphere, leaving me feeling disconnected from the experience.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

44hMedian play time
33hAverage play time
10-55hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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